M. T. A. (The MTA Song; Charlie on the M. T. A.)

DESCRIPTION: "Let me tell you of the story of a man named Charlie on a tragic and fateful day." He rides the MTA rail. Because he did not bring change, he cannot get off. "Did he ever return? No, he never returned.... He may ride forever 'neath the streets of Boston"
AUTHOR: Words: Jacqueline Steiner (1924-2019) and Bess Lomax Hawes
EARLIEST DATE: 1948 (Walter O'Brien campaign for Boston mayor)
KEYWORDS: humorous technology money parody campsong
FOUND IN:
REFERENCES (2 citations):
Averill-CampSongsFolkSongs, p. 55, "The M. T. A. Song" (notes only)
DT, CHARLMTA*
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "The Ship That Never Returned" [Laws D27] (tune) and references there
ALTERNATE TITLES:
Municipal Protest Train Association Song
NOTES [73 words]: According to a mudcat.org thread, "Tune Req: The MTA Song," the original of this listed Walter O'Brien as the mayoral candidate -- and, because O'Brien was a Progressive, when Will Holt recorded the song, there was a flap about a song praising an alleged communist. So the Kingston Trio zipped in a sort of artificial name.
Hard to believe this became a camp song; would kids understand the problem? But Averill lists 14 collections. - RBW
Last updated in version 6.3
File: ACSF055M

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